Recorded presentation

Laura Rasar King, MPH, CHES, Council of Education for Public Health, 800 Eye St., NW, Suite 202, Washington, DC 20001, 202-789-1050, lking@ceph.org

The Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) is the only accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education to accredit graduate schools and programs in public health, a function which it has carried out for the past 30 years. While it accredits graduate programs with various public health specializations, it has always maintained a separate category for the accreditation of graduate community health education programs. In response to feedback from the public health community, including health education practitioners and academics, CEPH has nearly completed revision of its accreditation criteria, a process that began in 2001. This most recent revision, will likely lead to significant changes both in the categorization of health education graduate programs and the inclusion of community health education undergraduate programs in eligibility for accreditation. This presentation will explore the impetus, process, and timeline for change as well as potential effects this change might have on health education practice in the field. It will also explore parallels from similar movements in other professions.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe how accreditation in professional preparation for community health education began.
• Discuss the impact that accreditation can have on professional practice in health education based on experiences in other professions.

Keywords: Accreditation, Professional Preparation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am the Acting Executive Director of the Council on Education for Public Health

Recorded presentation